# Rafael Sargento

> Master in Computer Science and Engineering based in Lisbon, Portugal.

## About
I’m a motivated Computer Engineering student with a passion for learning and personal growth. I’m outgoing, enjoy connecting with others, and thrive on taking on new challenges. I’m eager to explore opportunities that allow me to apply my skills, gain practical experience, and contribute to meaningful projects. With a strong foundation in technology and problem-solving, I’m looking to join a team where I can continue to learn, grow, and make a positive impact.

## Education
- Master Degree in Computer Science and Engineering — Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa (2024 – Current). Awards: KPMG Merit Award in Cloud Computing and Virtualization (2025)
  - Focused on Distributed Systems and Management of IT services
- Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Engineering — Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa (2021 - 2024), final grade 16.50/20. Awards: Academic Excellence (2023-2024); Academic Merit (2022-2023); Academic Merit (2021-2022)
- Secondary Education in Science and Technology — Escola Secundaria S. João do Estoril (2018 – 2021), final grade 17/20

## Work Experience
- Full Stack Developer Intern — Instituto Superior Técnico (09/2024 - Current, Part-Time, On-site)
  - I work with the IT Services team at IST to build and improve features for academic and admin applications
  - Connect existing systems and support new projects, contributing to software that thousands of people use every day.
- Backend Developer — Junitec (02/2024 – 11/2024, Part-Time, Remote)
  - Part of a 6-person team developing a bank API
  - Used .NET for API development
  - Utilized Stoplight for architecture design and team alignment
- Software Engineering Intern — Zoi (07/2023 – 09/2023, Full-Time, On-site)
  - Developed an innovative AI-powered chatbot
  - Built serverless web application using SST framework
  - Integrated Google Calendar with AI functionality
  - Implemented personalized user experience using Langchain and OpenAI API
- Delivery Driver — Uber & Bolt (2022 – 2023, Part-Time, Driving)
  - Managed time-sensitive delivery operations
  - Developed strong problem-solving skills under pressure
  - Maintained high customer satisfaction

## Languages
Portuguese (Mother Tongue), English (B2)

## Interests & Activities
- Sport: Tennis (7 years, federation member, participated in competitions)
- Car enthusiast, especially motor racing
- Closely follows political news
- Volunteering: Maré Viva Summer Programme — Cascais Town Council (07/2018 – 08/2018): Completed 125 hours of work, including giving directions to holidaymakers and maintaining beach access

## Links
- Website: https://sargento.pt
- CV (PDF): https://sargento.pt/cv.pdf
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-sargento/
- GitHub: https://github.com/r-sargento
- Email: rafael.machado.sargento@gmail.com